TGI Friday’s embraces kitchen automation system

The software and hardware solution is designed to remove complexity and human error from the entire food preparation process.

Chefs at TGI Friday’s only see the items they are responsible for preparing, and only when it is time to prepare them. The CSK ensures that all the items for a table are completed at the same time, and are properly plated, so that guests receive their meals together even if they have different cook times and are prepared at different kitchen stations.

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Managers can tell from a glance at the display screen the status of each item and order, while the CSK’s zone support ensures that correct menu items go out with the correct order

Jeremy Dunderdale, head of information technology for TGI Friday’s UK, trialled the CSK solution after its successful roll-out across US outlets.

“Hundreds of T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants in the United States have been benefitting from QSR’s CSK for years, so it was natural for the UK operation to try the system,” he said.

“The CSK’s powerful abilities group individual orders according to stations and manage cook timing, driving significant improvements in our operations during the trials,” says Dunderdale. “After reviewing CSK several members of our store management teams told me there was no way they would go back to the old system.”

Ashley Sheppard, commercial director for CST, said he expects the CSK solution to deliver instant improvements, and enable even further advancements over time. “We are delighted to be working with Jeremy and the team at T.G.I. Friday’s and are very proud to be associated with a brand that has re-emerged as the leader in its field, recently recognised with the Evolution Award. We are confident that T.G.I. Friday’s will continue to see tremendous operational enhancements from deploying CSK and we look forward to growing our working relationship over the coming years,” he said.

The system comprises the ConnectSmart Kitchen graphical software, xCeed kitchen controllers and KP-7500 keypads and bracketing.